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Home > News >Southern MN AHEC

Southern MN AHEC News

Application Deadline Approaching for MN Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Programs

December 1, 2010 is the deadline for MN Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Programs through the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care at the Minnesota Department of Health.

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According to the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the purpose of Minnesota's Loan Forgiveness Program is the recruitment and retention of health care professionals to needed areas and facilities within Minnesota.

Applications are available online. Note that most programs require applicants to apply while still enrolled in a program of study or residency.

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Loan forgiveness is an important benefit for health care professionals as well as health care facilities and communities experiencing a shortage of access to primary health care services.

Contact Amy Vallery for information on these programs at amy.vallery@state.mn.us or 651-201-3870.

Tri-State AHEC Meeting

August 26, 2010
Tri-State AHEC Conference
Moorhead, MN

MN AHEC representatives from Southern MN AHEC, Central MN AHEC, Northwest MN AHEC, and the MN AHEC Program Office met with representatives from South Dakota AHEC and North Dakota AHEC to discuss common goals and efforts in the areas health professions training and placement.
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"RPAP Key to Recruiting Small-Town Docs"

MN AHEC is proud to work with third-year medical students from the University of Minnesota who participate in the Rural Physicians Associate Program (RPAP). There are RPAP students in all four of our established rural AHEC regions.

The program is in its 38th year and has over 1,200 alumni, 57% of which chose to practice in rural areas. RPAP is a unique opportunity in clinical training wherein third-year medical students live and train for nine months in non-metropolitan communities under the supervision of preceptors who are family physicians. These preceptors mentor students in the professional and personal aspects of being a physician.

RPAP students learn clinical medicine, procedures, community health, and the business of medicine.

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The program has been highlighted in the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center News Capsules. You can also check out the program's newsletter, The Rural Physician, and more information can be found on the program's website.

Southern MN AHEC Health Careers Presentation Opportunities

Southern MN AHEC has several opportunities for presentations on health careers for multiple age levels.

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Download this informational flyer. and please contact Program Coordinator Wendy Foley if you have any questions or interest.

Southern MN AHEC and MN AHEC HRSA Grant Featured in West Central Tribune

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New health education grant is ‘mixed blessing’ for regional center
By Anne Polta
West Central Tribune - 12/22/2008

"WILLMAR- Minnesota's network of Area Health Education Centers has received a $3.4 million federal grant to continue its work of developing and training health care professionals in the state’s rural areas.

The funding, which was awarded to the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center, was announced last week. The money comes through the Bureau of Health Professions in the Health Resources and Services Administration, which provides federal dollars matched with university and local resources to support the development of the rural health care work force."

The full article can be found on the West Central Tribune website or as a PDF.

Southern Minnesota AHEC Welcomes Two New Board Members

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At their June meeting, the Board of Directors of Southern Minnesota AHEC elected Steven L. Perkins of Luverne and Rock County as a new board member. Mr. Perkins is semi-retired from a career in executive management in both private industry and the public sector. He currently operates Perkins Consulting, which provides management, financial and strategic planning, executive search and economic development consulting services to businesses and government. He describes himself as, "A goal driven, tenacious volunteer for health care and charity that believes leaders must set the example for organizational and societal collaborative action." Beneficiaries of his passion for volunteering include the Sanford Health Luverne Hospital Board of Directors, the Minnesota Hospital Association, the American Hospital Association, Luverne Area Community Foundation, Southwest Minnesota EMS Corporation, Missouri River Energy Systems, New Life Treatment Center, Inc., Minnesota Mayor's Association, and many others.

Gina Danyluk, B.S., M.B.A., Assistant to the CFO of the Academic Health Center, has been appointed by Frank Cerra, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota to fill the unexpired term of Stewart McMullan, who has moved to a new position at the University. Ms. Danyluk has been employed at the University of Minnesota for ten years. She was Director of Accounting Services in the Controller's office for five years; spent three years on the University's enterprise financial system implementation project and the last two years at the Academic Health Center. Ms. Danyluk has a Master of Business Administration with a major in accounting from Georgia State University.

Southern Minnesota AHEC is pleased to welcome these to new members to the Board of Directors.

Westward Expansion: A New Rural Dental Clinic Offers Students Learning Opportunities And Offers Patients Much-Needed Care

Westward Expansion: A New Rural Dental Clinic Offers Students Learning Opportunities And Offers Patients Much-Needed Care

An article found in the Spring 2008 Edition of: M: A quarterly publication for all University of Minnesota alumni, friends, faculty, and staff

For more information on the Rice Regional Dental Clinic and Southern MN AHEC, please contact Kathy Huntley, Executive Director of Southern MN AHEC.

Excerpt:
The School of Dentistry's well-established outreach program is now stretching even further--to west central Minnesota. Responding to the challenges rural communities face when recruiting health care professionals and the increasing number of outstate residents in need of affordable dental care, the School of Dentistry is sending students to treat patients at a new 10-chair clinic in Willmar, Minnesota.

After more than two years of planning and raising $2.1 million in public and private support, including $450,000 from Delta Dental of Minnesota to support service-learning opportunities, the Rice Regional Dental Clinic started taking patients in December. This community-based clinic is a collaboration between the School of Dentistry and Rice Memorial Hospital, and serves a 12-county area. Located in and owned by the hospital, the clinic gives the U's dental and hygiene students a chance to enhance their clinical skills while treating patients with diverse oral health needs.

Filling the need: Dental students help fill need for dentist in rural Minnesota

Filling the need: Dental students help fill need for dentist in rural Minnesota

An article in the April 3, 2008 issue of University of Minnesota eNews


For more information on the Rice Regional Dental Clinic and Southern MN AHEC, please contact Kathy Huntley, Executive Director of Southern MN AHEC.

Excerpt:
On its first day of operation, patients filled the 10 chairs of the Rice Regional Dental Clinic in Willmar, Minn. The clinic, a collaboration between the School of Dentistry and Rice Memorial Hospital, is the newest community-based learning site for the school. While the clinic is open to all patients, its mission is to serve low-income and uninsured patients who often are unable to access or afford dental care. The federal government has designated the 12-county area surrounding Willmar as one that is underserved by dentists as well as other health care professionals.

A dynamic opportunity: Providers see immense need for rural dental training site

A dynamic opportunity: Providers see immense need for rural dental training site

From the December 21, 2006 edition of the West Central Tribune.


For more information on the Rice Regional Dental Clinic and Southern MN AHEC, please contact Kathy Huntley, Executive Director of Southern MN AHEC.

Excerpt:
WILLMAR - Over the years, Dr. George Gordon has seen a steady stream of emergency patients with acute dental problems. These patients usually don't have a dentist or can't afford dental care. By the time they show up in Rice Memorial Hospital's emergency department, they're hurting. It frustrates Gordon that he can't do much for them, other than try to line up an appointment with a dentist in the Twin Cities- often the closest place where dentists are still available to see people who are low income and uninsured.

Rice Hospital votes to pursue dental training site project

Rice Hospital votes to pursue dental training site project

From the December 14, 2006 issue of the West Central Tribune.


For more information on the Rice Regional Dental Clinic and Southern MN AHEC, please contact Kathy Huntley, Executive Director of Southern MN AHEC.

Excerpt:
WILLMAR- Rice Memorial Hospital formally decided Wednesday to go ahead with a project to develop a regional dental training site and clinic in partnership with the University of Minnesota. The vote Wednesday by the city-owned hospital's board of directors came after months of discussion. Board members split 5-1 on the decision. Steve Cederstrom cast the single dissenting vote after expressing concern about whether the program will remain financially sustainable. Douglas Allen, Richard Engan, Verna Kelly, Wayne Larson and John Lindstrom voted in favor. Allen said the project is "the right thing to do." "I think the need is clear. I think there will be spin-off benefits to the hospital," he said. "I think it fits right with the mission." The vote authorizes negotiations to begin on an affiliation agreement with the University of Minnesota.

Minnesota Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions cooperative agreement # 1U76-HP00599-01 funded through Title VII of the Public Health Service Act.


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